On June 13, 8-year-old Sydney Weston, a Carl Junction, MO resident, was traveling with her parents and older brother on a United flight (through regional carrier SkyWest Airlines) on flight 5121 from Joplin, MO to Chicago, IL. They were going on vacation.
PC: SkyWest Airlines
Then…tragedy
Unfortunately, Weston, a fan of roller skating and Taylor Swift, experienced a medical emergency while aboard the plane, when she suddenly became unresponsive. Her family notified flight personnel about the issue, and they, in turn, rapidly began rendering aid. The plane, meanwhile, was diverted to Peoria.
According to the coroner’s report, Weston was not breathing and had no pulse upon landing. However, authorities immediately began life-saving measures and took her to OSF Healthcare Saint Francis Medical Center, where, despite continued aggressive resuscitative efforts, she was pronounced deceased at 8:05am.
Peoria County’s coroner’s initial findings were inconclusive and they were awaiting the results of several tests, including histology, biopsies, cultures, blood hematology and chemistry, and toxicology, which typically took four to six weeks for a result. However, the coroner did say they didn’t find any evidence of foul play, abuse or neglect.
Autopsy results
Weston’s cause of death was revealed earlier this week.
Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood said Sydney’s death was caused by complications from chronic primary adrenalitis (long-term ) in the setting of multiple infections, including strep and enterovirus.
Weston also had duodenitis (inflammation of the first part of a person’s small intestine) and thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid gland).
“The associated diagnoses of chronic adrenalitis, duodenitis and thyroiditis are suggestive of an underlying autoimmune disorder,” said Harwood. An autoimmune disorder is when one’s immune system attacks healthy cells of organs and tissues, disrupting their normal operating function.
After her death, a SkyWest spokesperson told USA Today they appreciated “the efforts of our crewmembers who responded quickly to assist and the medical personnel who met the aircraft.”
“She will forever be remembered for the happiness she brought to every single person she encountered,” her family wrote before her funeral. “Our hearts are heavy. She was our baby girl and we celebrate her beautiful life.”
So young. So quick. Such a tragedy.
Feature Image: Bill Abbott / flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
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